Sapphire Princess Returns from Drydock with New Upgrades
Princess Cruises' Sapphire Princess gets the addition of new specialty restaurants and other upgrades following a two-week drydock.
cruiseline.comHere’s the latest on the Sapphire Princess, based on recent publicly available reporting.
Short answer
- The Sapphire Princess has been in active service with Princess Cruises, with recent updates highlighting dry-dock refurbishments and upcoming itineraries, including moves to new regions and specialty dining upgrades.[2][3][4]
Overview of recent developments
- Dry-dock upgrades: The ship recently completed a two-week dry-dock that included the addition of two new specialty restaurants (Makoto Ocean and Crown Grill) and other refurbishments to enhance onboard dining and guest experiences. The upgrades were reported by Princess Cruises and industry press in October 2025, with openings for the new venues slated for November 2025 in some reports.[3][4][2]
- New dining concepts: The upgraded ship now features Makoto Ocean and Crown Grill as specialty dining options, supplementing the existing venues like Sabatini’s and Churrascaria where applicable.[2][3]
- 2026 itineraries: Following the dry-dock, Sapphire Princess has been described as heading toward a varied schedule that includes Mexico, South America/Antarctica options, and later moves to the Mediterranean and Northern Europe for spring/summer 2026, with Canada/New England in fall 2026 in some sources. There are also notes about a 2027 Japan season featuring a reunion with Diamond Princess in Tokyo, marking a broad expansion of Japan itineraries.[4][3][2]
- Antarctica and expedition context: There are multiple contemporary updates from cruise-enthusiast channels indicating Sapphire Princess is operating in polar waters, including Antarctic itineraries and related onboard experiences, alongside broader cruise industry updates. These sources emphasize on-water operations and guest experiences in remote destinations.[8][9]
- Other notes: Some media coverage around late 2025 and early 2026 mentions occasional onboard dining adjustments, construction timelines for new venues, and general post-drydock operational tweaks, including occasional scheduling changes as the ship acclimates after upgrades.[5]
What this means for travelers
- If you’re considering a Sapphire Princess sailing in 2026, you can expect contemporary dining upgrades (Makoto Ocean and Crown Grill available alongside legacy venues) and a mix of itineraries spanning the Americas, Europe, and Asia, with some sailings touching Antarctica or other exotic destinations depending on the season.[3][4][2]
- Check current sailing details and openings for the new venues, since exact availability can vary by sailing date and port of call. Princess Cruises’ official ship page and recent press releases are the most reliable sources for up-to-date itineraries and dining options.[7]
Illustration
- Example: A typical modern outfitted Sapphire Princess now features two additional specialty dining venues (Makoto Ocean and Crown Grill) plus established options, and it has circulated through multiple regions in 2026, including potential Japan re-encounters with Diamond Princess in 2027, indicating an expanded Japan program.[4][2]
Citations
- Sapphire Princess upgrades and new dining venues were reported by Princess Cruises and industry outlets in October 2025, noting Makoto Ocean and Crown Grill as new add-ons.[2][3][4]
- Reports discuss upcoming itineraries moving to Mexico, South America/Antarctica, and later European deployments with a 2027 Japan-season plan, indicating broad, multi-region scheduling.[3][4][2]
- Additional coverage and onboard updates emphasize current polar itineraries and Antarctica participation, with ongoing industry commentary on cruise trends.[9][8]